Plasticity: Have Your Say

In Wonderland, Alice keeps changing her size to do things. In a way, your brain is doing the same thing. You brain is actually changing its structure because of what you do and learn.

You have 100 billion neurons in your brain. They are in charge of everything you do, feel and think. The neurons connect to each other, sending messages all the time, whether you’re awake or asleep.

As you grow up, your brain puts in new connections between its neurons. The connections which are already there can get stronger, or weaker, or disappear completely. This is based on what you learn and do.

You have less connections as you get older, but the ones that are left are faster. And you can still learn new things and make changes to your connections when you’re an adult, but it’s much harder!

So what do you think? Do you feel like you’re making stronger connections in your brain – by practising your times tables, for instance?

Hannah FlynnHannah Flynn is an Alice in Wonderland enthusiast who also happens to work at Tate on Tate Kids, Young Tate and the Great British Art Debate.